Mummy Shares: My Kids' First Week Back to School

How are all my fellow mums doing now that our kids have been back in school for a week? Do you feel relieved or as tired as ever? Personally, I feel like I can finally catch my breath. Here's why. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy having my children home. However, long school breaks can also be mentally and physically taxing for me. My days were considerably more hectic than usual since I work from home. In addition to getting my work done, I had to spend time attending to my kids from morning to night. I no longer had that free time to work while the kids were in school. It was honestly pretty exhausting because most nights during the three-week school break, I had to stay up late to catch up on work. Then again, after spending that much time with the kids, I now miss those extra times with them already. We hung out at home, went on vacation, and went out almost every weekend and night. I enjoy doing all of those activities with the kids because it allows me to create more precious memories with them. Anyway, now that they're back in school, it's exciting to be getting back to our regular school routine too. Come join me as I share what happened during their first week back to school. Perhaps some of you mums can relate too. ;) Re-establish Their Eating and Sleeping Schedules Image credit: Canva My oh my, I admit that my kids slept late almost every night during the school holidays. Some nights, they just wanted to hang out and play games; and on some nights, we parents were to blame. We either took them out to late-night movies or simply hung out to eat, such as at food truck diners. But now we can all say goodbye to that freedom—or at least until the following extended school break. They're back to going to bed early and eating at scheduled times. Early bedtime is beneficial for the kids. Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital states that studies have shown that children who get an adequate amount of sleep on regularly have better attention, behaviour, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. Sleep deprivation can result in high blood pressure, obesity, and even depression. There is even a recommended amount of sleep for kids based on age, as shown below: 4-12 months: 12-16 hours (including naps) 1-2 years: 11-14 hours (including naps) 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps) 6-12 years: 9-12 hours 13-18 years: 8-10 hours (Source: American Academy of Paediatrics) On the other hand, there's also eating schedules. My kids have scheduled dining times at school for their breakfast, lunch, and tea. To ensure they have enough time to do schoolwork and rest before going to bed, we also set a specific dinner time at home. It's beneficial for kids to have predictable mealtimes because it helps them form positive relationships with food and prevent bad digestion behaviour like overeating. Less Entertainment Once School Begins Image credit: Canva During the school break, I was very lenient with my children in terms of enjoyment and play. I allowed them to play video games, watch online videos, play online games, and watch cartoon shows on TV. I still limited their screen time, but they had more than they usually would when they were in school. So, for the past week since school started, they have been limited to watching only one show on TV after dinner. For the rest of the week, no games or online videos on their phone or laptop. They can only do those on weekends. Limiting children's screen and online time is beneficial to their health. According to Verywell Family, less social media and gaming mean more time for kids to spend interacting with friends and family, going outside, getting some exercise, or reading a book. Recent research has shown that limiting screen time can improve children's physical, social, and behavioural wellbeing, as well as their academic performance. Prep the Night Before My children will place their school bags here every night after they have packed them. Almost everything for school is prepared the night before to make our morning school run a breeze. I would iron their uniforms and hang them in their room. My children would also assist in packing their school bags and placing them in the designated hallway space. This makes it easier for them to pick up as they walk to the front door. If they want to bring snacks to school the next day, I will prepare them the night before so I am not rushed in the morning. Even their water bottles are kept in the fridge because they like bringing cold water to school. When everything is organised and planned ahead of time, you won't feel so rushed and stressed in the mornings. Although my children receive lunch at school, they occasionally wanted to bring something extra in case they didn't like the prepared menu or simply wanted something additional to eat. They hadn't requested it for the first week, but if they do later, I'd prepare them in advance as well. I usually have some lunch prepared in advance that they can either eat cold or that I can quickly reheat in the morning. Instead of having to start cooking in the morning, this saves so much time. Extracurricular Activities at School Have Resumed My kids ready for their taekwondo class. My kids would stay an extra hour after school every day for extracurricular activities such as taekwondo or Islamic activities such as Quran reading. All of those activities were put on hold during the school holidays. But now that school has begun again, my children are back to being preoccupied with their school schedules and activities. They also recently registered for a swimming class, which began last Saturday. It's only once a week, so the additional activity isn't too taxing on them. Also, before I registered them for any of the activities, I would ask them if they wanted to participate or not. I believe I must not force them to do anything they do not want to do. When we push children too much, we greatly increase the likelihood that they will develop self-doubt and insecurity. This can include making them do things they don't want to or making them act like someone they're not. Remember to keep in mind that children have individual interests just like adults do. If they're unsure of theirs, you could offer guidance and determine the child's interests so that you can find activities centred around those interests. Homework Sessions Are Back Image credit: Canva My kids get antsy when it comes to homework time again after three weeks of not having any. But since it's only been the first week, they don't have much homework yet. So, I still have time to plan out how to make their homework sessions more enjoyable to ensure their better focus. Some of the ways I've discovered and intend to try are as follows: Have my kids create a homework chart where they can write down what homework they have, when it is due, and when they have completed it. Look into online learning apps that are enjoyable to use and promote learning. Arrange homework play dates with one or two of their closest friends. Move the session outside so they can get some fresh air while doing their homework. Establish a dedicated homework area at home. Rewards and incentives are always effective—but this should be practiced moderately so they won't become reliant on rewards to be proactive in life. In Essence, Daily Routines Matter Image credit: Canva I'm relieved that the first week went pretty smoothly. The school routine has returned, with us dropping the kids off at school before 8 a.m. and picking them up around 5:30 p.m. Once they get home, they have to take a shower, eat dinner, do their homework, relax, and go to bed. They're getting back to their routine and aren't complaining at all. I'm so proud of them. It’s actually good for kids to have routines. Routines not only help us as parents in keeping things organised but the kids learn important life skills too. These include time management, self-care, responsibility, and independence. If you don't already have one, now might be a good time to establish one with your children. You've got this, my fellow mums! For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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